Signal apparatus



July E6, 1940.. 1 UPP' 2,208,297

SIGNAL APPARATUS Fil-ed sept. 18, 1939 Patented July 16, 1940 NITED STATE SIGNAL AIfrARATUs Julius J. Lipp, Chicago, Ill. Application september 18,1939, serial No. 295,501

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in signal apparatus and more especially such a device used for signaling the number of the down or play in football games and similar contests andsports. The device is not limited to theparticular use described as it will be seen that it may have a very broad applicability in connection with signaling apparatus of all kinds. is particularly adapted for use in connection with night football to show an illuminated ligure or other signal to indicate the down or play of the game.

My improved device is simple in construction and operation, light in weight, but strong and rugged. It will be found that it is easy to carry the device and manipulate the same.

Other features and advantages of my invention will appear more fully as I proceed with my specication.

In that form of device embodying the features of my invention shown in the accompanying drawing, Fig. l is a View in front elevation, partly in section; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the line 2 of Fig. l, but on an enlarged scale; and Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken as indicated by the line 3 of Fig. 2.

As shown in the drawing, the device includes a post Ill which may be made of any desired length in order to bring the signal box of the device to the desired height. The post is preferably pointed at the bottom as indicated by II)a and at least the upper portion thereof is hollow. Preferably the post is made of any suitable metallic holloviT tubing.

On the upper end of the post II) is a rectangular signal box II vand above that a suitable handle I2 for carrying the device.

The box II is hollow and provided with an electric light inside adapted to selectively illuminate the figure or signal on one face of the box II. For example, as here shown, the four sides of the box I l may bear translucent or transparent windows having the shapes 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively, any one of which may be illuminated to designate the particular down. In general, the selectivity of the signal is obtained by means of rotating the box II on the rest of the device. Inside of the box II the source of illumination is screened or shaded so that it will be directed against only one face of the box II at one time.

Consequently, by rotating the box II any of its faces and consequently any of the signals l, 2, 3, or 4 may be illuminated by the light inside.

At the upper end of the post I0 there is provided a cap or plate I3 forming the bottom of a As here shown, it

lamp chamber I4 containing a suitable electric lamp or other source of illumination I5 surrounded on three sides by the screen or reflector IB. The upper end of the vlamp chamber is closed by the upper plate or disc I'I connected to the lower 5 plate I3 by the three posts I8, I8. The discs I3 and I1 are circular and the upper disc carries the circular extension I9 in'which is mounted the handle I2. The screen or reflector I6 has its edges attached to two of the rods I8 by means of the clamps 20. As shown in Fig. 3, the open side of the lamp chamber lies between the posts I8, I8 to which the edges of the screen I6 are attached. This open side in Fig. 3 is indicated by Illa.

The box II is rotatively mounted on the discs I3 and I'I, the latter being flanged for this purpose as indicated by I3a and Ila. The upper part of the box is provided with a conical cap I Ia having a collar IIb surrounding the lower part of the handle I2 and resting on the upper edge of the tubular extension I9 on the upper disc II.

The signal box II is provided at the corners with inwardly projecting diagonal baffles 2l vadapted to register with the edges of the screen I6 so that in any one position lightfrom the lamp box will be directed against one face only of the box II and screened from the three rel maining faces. As here shown, the signals on the four faces oi the box II are the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4. Each of these is formed by making a suitable opening through the face of the box, and preferably placing sheet material such as translucent red glass 22 behind the face. For example, as shown in Figs. l and 2, the face II of the box I I is provided with the openings or windows 23 and 24 to indicate the figure 4.

25 indicates a spring-pressed ball carried by the collar I Ib of the box I I yieldngly engaging selectively four depressions 26 in the handle kI2 in order to position the box I I in one of its four positions exposing one of the four faces and the signal thereon to the light from the lamp chamber I4, depending upon how the box is positioned.

The lamp I5 is energized by dry cells 21, 21 carried inthe hollow post I0 resting on the spring 23 which in turn is supported by the cross-bar 29 in the post I0. The lower end of the battery thus formed is grounded through the spring 28 and the upper cell has its central terminal in contact with .the insulated member 30 mounted in the disc I3. 3| indicates the wire connecting the member 30 with the operating switch 32 on the handle I2. 33 indicates the wire leading from this switch to one the spirit and scope ofthe invention as disclosed' in the appended claim, in which it ismy intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art. What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

above the signal box.

A d'evice of the character described, including: a hollow post; a cap on the top of the post; a stationary lamp chamber on said cap, said cap forming the bottom of said lamp chamber, said lamp chamber being vclosed on three sides but open on the fourth side; a signal box rotatively mounted on said cap, said lamp chamber lying inside of said signal box, said signal box having a plurality of faces, each having a light transmitting signal portion adapted to be illuminated from the inside of the box; an electric lamp in they lamp chamber; a battery in the hollow post for energizing the lamp in the lamp chamber; electrical connections between thel battery and lamp; and a handle JULIUS J. LIPP. 

